Teachers should be informed about child custody arrangements

On behalf of Terzich & Ort, LLP posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, September 3, 2014.

Parents in New York know that education is important in every child's life. However, the first day at school can be stressful for many children. The child may be concerned about friends, books, teachers and the overall new life away from the family at school. If the child is living in a family that has recently divorced or separated, it can lead to additional concerns.

During divorce, issues like parents living in separate households and child custody may cause stress for the child. Concerns about the future may bring about changes in the child's behavior. In such situations, it is advisable that the parents meet the teacher of the child. Most likely, the teacher will be interacting with the child for the first time and information about a divorce, child custody arrangements or a visitation schedule can help the teacher work with the child. The parents can also ask the teacher to keep an eye on the child to check if the child is emotionally coping in the school.

The parents can ask the school to inform both of them about relevant updates about the child and can leave their contact information with the school to enable co-parenting. Sometimes parents speak poorly of the other parent and believe that their parenting skills are better than the other, but it is advisable to not speak their personal opinions to the teachers or child.

While faced with divorce issues, it is normal for a couple to feel overwhelmed. However, it is important that they are emotionally available for the child during these times. The child may feel anxious and need of attention of the parent; crying, getting angry, questioning and misbehaving may form part of this behavior. This is why the parents should always keep the best interests of the child in mind while prioritizing their issues.

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